Nationally and among K.E.ST.R.E.L members, systematic and recreational interest in butterfly field study is increasing rapidly. This Spring, Brian Taber undertook K.E.ST.R.E.L's first systematic observation of migrant and resident butterflies at Kiptopeke State Park. From April 26 through May 3, Brian recorded the following 25 butterfly and skipper species:

Giant Swallowtail	Tiger Swallowtail
Spicebush Swallowtail	Cabbage White
Falcate Orange-tip	Common Sulfur
Orange Sulfur	Red-banded Hairstreak
Brown Elfin	Frosted Elfin
Henry's Elfin	Eastern Pine Elfin
Eastern Tailed Blue	Spring Azure
Pearl Crescent	Question Mark
Comma	American Painted Lady
Red Admiral	Buckeye
Monarch	Silver-spottted Skipper
Juvenal's Duskywing	Wild Indigo Duskywing
Common Sootywing

      This Fall Kiptopeke visitors are invited to help monitor butterfly and skipper flight by posting observations on the log located at the butterfly garden. Several publications will be useful in checking field observations: Two field guides that can be found at many bookstores are Birding through Binoculars by Jeffrey Glassberg and the The Peterson Field Guide to Eastern Butterflies by Opler and Malikul (Houghton Mifflin). Dr. Steve Roble's Butterflies and Skippers Checklist will also help and is available at the Kiptopeke Butterfly garden.

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